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Civil service policies in Indonesia: An obstacle to decentralization?
Author(s) -
King Dwight Y.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
public administration and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-162X
pISSN - 0271-2075
DOI - 10.1002/pad.4230080302
Subject(s) - decentralization , bureaucracy , civil service , context (archaeology) , public administration , obstacle , order (exchange) , service (business) , government (linguistics) , balance (ability) , business , political science , public service , finance , politics , law , geography , marketing , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Decentralization of a substantial portion of development activity under Indonesia's New Order has been attempted in the context of centralizing civil service reforms. This analysis, based on field observation in two areas distant from the ‘bureaucratic centre’ of Java, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara in early 1986, shows some ways in which the structure of the civil service and recent policies governing it have handicapped regional governments in their attempts to develop an apparatus capable of managing decentralization. For example, the structure often leads local officials to prefer rank over technical qualifications in appointments to managerial positions. The analysis also shows how they cope and attempt to maintain their legal prerogatives vis‐à‐vis the central government. In conclusion policy recommendations are offered that would help to achieve a better balance between the New Order's concerns for centralization and decentralization.